Cardiff City have completed the season-long loan signing of West Brom defender Cedric Kipre, who becomes the Bluebirds' 12th recruit this summer.
WalesOnline learned on Thursday that the Bluebirds were interested in taking the 25-year-old centre-back on loan before Steve Bruce revealed the player was close to sealing a move away from The Hawthorns.
City have made 11 permanent signings already this summer, but the centre-half, who is eligible for both France and the Ivory Coast, becomes the Bluebirds' first loan capture. Kipre, who is known as a ball-playing centre-half who will add yet more mobility to a squad, expressed his delight at the move to the Welsh capital.
"I’m really happy to be here. The manager showed a real interest in me, and he showed that he wanted to have me on board," he said after signing.
“I’d describe myself as a ball-playing centre half; aggressive on the ball and against opponents. I like to defend 1v1, as well. Hopefully I can play as many games as possible, stay injury free and try to help the team to achieve their goals.”
The defender, who trained with the Bluebirds on Friday, did not play for the Baggies after January last season and was in and out of the side at the start of the campaign, too. He now adds competition for places at the heart of defence alongside Curtis Nelson, Mark McGuinness and Perry Ng.
“I want to see competition across the board, and see players having to push each other," manager Steve Morison said. That’s what Cedric brings, and I’m really pleased to have him in the building.
“He’s got really good experience, he’s played loads of games in the Championship, he’s at a great age and he’s a really good character.
“I told him what we are all about, and what we’re trying to do. He’s another one who wanted to come here and be a part of it, which is a really good coup for us.”
Kipre came through the academy system at Paris Saint-Germain before swapping the French capital for Leicester City in 2014. He failed to break into the Foxes' first team, however, and joined Motherwell for a season in 2017. After two years at Wigan Athletic he joined West Brom, for whom he has made 19 appearances since joining in 2020.
Cardiff have been looking to bolster their centre-back options all summer following the departures of Aden Flint and Ciaron Brown, while Sean Morrison is still on the treatment table.
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